Texas one of the worst states for women; California one of the best

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Despite U.S. women's advancements, substantial inequalities remain with men, but disparities for women also exist among states, a non-profit group says.

A report by the Center for American Progress analyzed multiple factors -- 36 factors overall -- involving women.

For example, women in Vermont make on average close to 85 cents for every $1 a man makes, while women in Wyoming make only 64 cents $1 a man makes. Nationally, U.S. women are paid only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. On average, African-American women make 64 cents for every dollar that white men make.

On leadership, 15 states have no female elected leaders in the House of Representatives or the Senate. Lastly, while less than 10 percent of women in Vermont, Wisconsin, Hawaii and Massachusetts are uninsured, nearly 25 percent of women in Texas do not have health insurance.

Specifically, the state of Texas received a grade of "F" and had a ranking of 45-of-50. Women in Texas make 79 cents for every dollar a man makes and has the 17th-smallest wage gap in the United States. However, Hispanic women in Texas make 45 cents for every dollar a white male makes and more than 19 percent of women in Texas live in poverty.

Texas does not have a policy providing for paid family, medical or temporary disability leave.

Just 10 percent of Texas's congressional seats are held by women and ranks 34th in the nation on female elected officials in Congress.

Texas ranks 47th in the nation based on the health factors analyzed, with one-quarter of non-elderly women in Texas uninsured.

The state has the 23rd-worst maternal mortality rate in the nation, with 10.5 deaths for every 100,000 live births.

California received an overall grade of "A" and ranked fourth best state for women. Women in California make 84 cents for every dollar a man makes.

California has the fourth-smallest wage gap in the nation for women overall. But, Hispanic women in California make only 44 cents for every dollar a white male makes, the biggest gap in the nation.

Eighteen percent of women in California live in poverty, while 27 percent of African-American women in California live in poverty.

California ranks fifth in the nation based on the leadership factors and the state ranks fifth in the nation on female elected officials in Congress. California ranks 14th in the nation based on the health factors analyzed, but has the 16th-worst maternal mortality rate in the nation, with 12.5 deaths for every 100,000 live births.